An irrigation system is composed of a mobile sprinkler cart; a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the mobile sprinkler cart and to supply water to a sprinkler supported on the cart; and an addressable electronic id tag mounted on each hydrant. A main controller is programmed to control operation of the mobile sprinkler cart, and the id tag is adapted to send at least hydrant identifying data to the main controller to thereby enable the main controller to move the mobile sprinkler cart to the hydrant.
|
1. An irrigation system comprising:
a portable sprinkler;
a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the portable sprinkler and to supply water to the portable sprinkler;
an addressable electronic id tag mounted on each hydrant;
data stored on said addressable electronic id tag, said data comprising at least hydrant identification, location, watering time and sprinkling pattern parameters for each hydrant, respectively;
a main controller programmed to control operation of the portable sprinkle;
a user interface including a communication link that is configured to receive commands from a remote device for programming and controlling the operation of the portable sprinkler,
wherein said main controller includes a hydrant reader module by which said data is received from said id tag, said main controller further comprising a sprinkler control module that provides sprinkling data to a sprinkler module that is programmed to operate the sprinkler in accordance with said data received by the main controller from said id tag on said hydrant.
25. An irrigation system comprising:
a portable sprinkler;
a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the portable sprinkler and to supply water to the portable sprinkler;
an addressable electronic identification tag mounted on each hydrant;
sprinkler data stored on said addressable electronic identification tag, said sprinkler data comprising irrigation time, duration and volumetric flow level for each hydrant, respectively;
a main controller programmed to control operation of the portable sprinkler; and
a user interface including a communication link that is configured to receive commands from a remote device for programming and controlling the operation of the portable sprinkler,
wherein said electronic identification tag is programmed to send signals encoded with said sprinkler data to said main controller, said main controller further comprising a sprinkler control module that provides said sprinkling data to a sprinkler module that is programmed to operate the portable sprinkler in accordance with said sprinkling data received by the main controller from said electronic identification tag on said hydrant.
2. The irrigation system of
3. The irrigation system according to
4. The irrigation system according to
5. The irrigation system of
6. The irrigation system of
7. The irrigation system of
8. The irrigation system of
9. The irrigation system of
10. The irrigation system of
11. The irrigation system of
12. The irrigation system of
13. The irrigation system of
14. The irrigation system of
16. The irrigation system according to
17. The irrigation system according to
18. The irrigation system according to
21. The irrigation system of
22. The irrigation system of
24. The irrigation system of
26. The irrigation system according to
|
The present invention relates generally to an irrigation system and more specifically to an automatic sprinkler system that includes a single or plurality of dockable mobile sprinkler carts or vehicles operable to sequentially travel to and dock with one of a plurality of hydrants, and to then distribute water provided by the hydrants to irrigate a local area proximate to each of the plurality of hydrants.
Mobile irrigation systems having elevated boom or truss assemblies carrying multiple sprinklers are typically of the center pivot-type or the linear- (or lateral-) move-type. In a center-pivot machine, the elevated truss assembly pivots about an upright standpipe that supplies water to the sprinklers attached to the truss assembly. In a linear-move machine, the elevated truss assembly is carried on mobile, wheeled towers that move the machine linearly along a path that is perpendicular to the elevated boom or truss. Typically, the linear-move machine travels from one end of a field to the other and back again, and sprinkling typically occurs in both directions, with water supplied by hose, spaced hydrants or adjacent water-filled ditch or culvert.
In still other systems, a mobile traveler or cart moves along an above-ground pipe, docking with hydrants spaced along the pipe. See, for example, commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,300,004 and 7,140,563 incorporated herein by reference. In a variation of this arrangement, the pipe is below ground, eliminating the primary steering component used by the cart to move between hydrants. In some cases, buried guide wires are used to steer the cart. There remains a need, however, for a relatively simple and reliable system for guiding a mobile sprinkler cart along an above-ground pipe or across a field to engage a plurality of hydrants (in sequence) in accordance with a programmed sprinkling policy that controls the application of water to the field at each hydrant.
The exemplary but nonlimiting embodiments disclosed herein relate to the use of electronic identification (ID) tags, e.g., Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tags, on water supply hydrants in an irrigation system. More specifically, the ID tags are used to guide a mobile sprinkler cart (or traveler) to a hydrant located along a water supply pipe that itself may be above or below ground. The ID tag may also store data relating to sprinkler parameters such as sprinkling time and arc coverage, that will govern the operation of the sprinkler at that hydrant location. Optionally, semi-active RFID technology may be employed such that the RFID tag can both send and receive signals from a main controller.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention relates to an irrigation system comprising a mobile sprinkler cart; a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the mobile sprinkler cart and to supply water to a sprinkler supported on the cart; an addressable electronic ID tag mounted on each hydrant; and a main controller programmed to control operation of the mobile sprinkler cart, the ID tag adapted to send at least hydrant identifying data to the main controller to thereby enable the main controller to move the mobile sprinkler cart to the hydrant.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an irrigation system comprising a mobile sprinkler cart; a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the mobile sprinkler cart and to supply water to a sprinkler supported on the cart; an addressable electronic identification tag mounted on each hydrant; and a main controller programmed to control operation of the mobile sprinkler cart; wherein the electronic identification tag programmed to at least send signals to the main controller.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to an irrigation system hydrant comprising a fluid outlet adapted to supply water to a mobile sprinkler cart, the hydrant having an electronic ID tag affixed thereto, programmed to transmit signals to the mobile sprinkler cart to enable the mobile sprinkler cart to find and engage the hydrant.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method of irrigating a field bounded by a plurality of spaced hydrants connected by a water supply pipe and actuatable by engagement with a mobile sprinkler cart carrying a hydrant valve actuator in communication with a sprinkler, the method comprising: (a) utilizing an odd number of the plurality of hydrants; and (b) moving the mobile sprinkler cart to engage and actuate every other one of the odd number of hydrants.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method of guiding a mobile sprinkler cart carrying a programmable sprinkler to a hydrant comprising: (a) providing a datum reference for establishing a reference angular offset of the sprinkler cart relative to a hydrant to be addressed and associated with a specific watering pattern; (b) determining an actual angular offset of the sprinkler cart relative to the hydrant as the sprinkler cart approaches the hydrant; and (c) adjusting the sprinkler to repeat the specific watering pattern at the hydrant regardless of the current angular offset of the sprinkler cart relative to the hydrant.
The invention will now be described in greater detail in connection with the drawings identified below.
Referring to
As shown, a plurality of hydrants 22 are supported on the sprinkler system supply pipe 16, and are positioned at specific desired locations over the land area. These hydrants are mounted in an above-ground configuration and operable to mate with a mobile sprinkler cart 24 whose construction and operation will be discussed in further detail below. Hydrant spacing is determined by the extent of the desired overlap in sprinkling patterns derived at each site. As shown in
A single or a plurality of mobile sprinkler carts 24 are adapted to travel and to mount, or otherwise dock with, each of the plurality of hydrants 22 and to emit and distribute a flow of fluid in a controlled manner from a sprinkler mounted on the cart over an area of land to be irrigated. Each mobile sprinkler cart 24 is operable to travel in a forward direction, or alternatively, to travel in an opposite or reverse direction in response to a sequence or watering policy. In the nonlimiting exemplary embodiment shown in
In the specific but nonlimiting example shown in
With reference to both
The ID tag 30 may be configurable by the mobile sprinkler cart Main Controller 32 and includes information storage capability so that it may be updated by the Main Controller 32 in a hydrant or ID Information Writer Module 33. The ID tag 30 may be updated with information regarding the time, duration, and volumetric flow level of the hydrant. The ID tag 30 may also store the irrigation time, sprinkler arc parameters, and desired water pressure. This feature is especially useful in multiple mobile sprinkler installations where hydrant information is updated during irrigation and can be read by other mobile sprinkler carts. In other words, the hydrant can store and share up-to-date information which is also useful to other mobile sprinkler carts upon docking with that same hydrant.
With continuing reference to
The mobile sprinkler cart 24 also includes various subsystems or modules that control all aspects of the mobile sprinkler discussed further hereinbelow, all of which feed information to and/or receive information from the Main Controller 32.
As already noted above, the mobile sprinkler cart 24 is configured to travel on the ground and to engage the various hydrants 22 located along the system pipe 16 under the power supplied by the diesel engine 28. The latter also powers a hydraulic pump 36 that propels hydraulic fluid through a valve and piping system which connects to a plurality of hydraulic drive motors 38, each driving one of the respective cart wheels 26. Alternatively, the mobile sprinkler cart 24 may be powered by a battery 27 and propelled by electric motors or other combinations that are known in the art. The engine 28 is governed by the Main Controller 32 via an Engine Control Module 40, while the drive motors 38 receive input from a Cart Motion Control Module 42.
The Docking Module 29 is configured to engage and dock with a hydrant 22 when the mobile sprinkler cart 24 is positioned over the hydrant in a watering position. The docking procedure per se generally may be as described in the above-identified commonly-owned '004 patent. It will be appreciated that the Docking Module 29 includes an automatic valve opening device adapted to engage and open a valve accessible from the top of the hydrant. Upon disengagement, the valve is automatically closed. The valve opening mechanism may be as disclosed in the above-identified co-pending '296 application.
The Main Controller 32 communicates with a Machine Health Module 44, Irrigation Module 46, Datum Reference Module 48, Sprinkler Control Module 50, Guidance Module 52, and User Interface 54.
The Machine Health Module 44 monitors the status of, and controls those functions of the mobile sprinkler cart 24 that are necessary to ensure safety and fitness. This module is operable to override any of the other modules of the Main Controller 32 when necessary.
The Irrigation Module 46 is operable to query a user-configurable database that contains irrigation parameters necessary to appropriately distribute water over the area covered by the mobile sprinkler cart 24. These irrigation parameters may include overall field watering parameters and hydrant specific parameters. The overall field watering parameters govern the sprinkling policies for the field and may include hydrant sequencing, irrigation water availability schedules, end of course (or field) instructions, time between active watering periods, etc. It will be understood that hydrant specific parameters govern the sprinkling pattern proximate to a specific hydrant 22. These parameters may include hydrant dwell time, sprinkling pattern shape, watering time, and watering pressure. The Irrigation Module 46 may also receive input from other sensors or communication systems which may influence the suitability of specific irrigation policies. This input may include information from a variety of sources and may include wind speed and direction information, accumulated rainfall and rain rates, evapotranspiration rates, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, time of day, and day of year. Actions initiated by the Irrigation Module 46 may be modified based on this information as governed by the sprinkling policies. The Irrigation Module 46 also contains the overall watering schedule clock. The Irrigation Module also receives information from the ID Reader Module 34 via the Main Controller 32.
In one embodiment, the Irrigation Module 46 calculates the volume of water expelled from the sprinkler by integrating an instantaneous flow rate from a sprinkler-nozzle-specific look-up table as a function of measured water pressure. The Irrigation Module 46 compares a desired total accumulated volume of water to this calculated accumulated volume of water to determine when an irrigation cycle is complete.
The Datum Reference Module 48 provides a current angular offset reading regarding the specific orientation of the sprinkler 56 relative to a datum reference. This datum reference is established at the time of installation and is used as the reference in the user configurable database. The current angular offset may be inferred by the module from information provided by the Guidance Module 52 or from monitoring the readings from a vehicle-mounted electronic compass 58 over a pre-defined course of travel as the mobile sprinkler travels to the appropriate hydrants. This angular offset information is important for providing repeatable hydrant specific watering patterns at each hydrant regardless of the orientation of the mobile sprinkler relative to the datum reference.
The Sprinkler Control Module 50 is configured to respond to commands from the Main Controller 32 and to receive input from the Datum Reference Module 48.
More specifically, the Sprinkler Control Module 50 is mounted in fluid communication with the Docking Module 29 by a fluid conduit 51. In this manner, water from the sprinkler supply pipe 16 is routed through the hydrant 22, and through the Docking Module 29 to the Sprinkler Module 53 where it is emitted from the sprinkler 56. The Sprinkler Control Module 50 is configured to adjust the Sprinkler Module 53 in accordance with the hydrant specific parameters, and thus control the sprinkler 56.
The sprinkler 56 is rotatable in a plane approximately parallel with the surface of the ground over an arc. The sprinkler may be of the type sold by the assignee, Nelson Irrigation Corporation, under the name “Big Gun”® but other sprinklers are suitable as well. The Sprinkler Control Module 50 is configured to controllably project an arc as the stream passes through and is expelled by the nozzle of the sprinkler 56. The Sprinkler Control Module 50 is configurable to control a number of the sprinkling parameters including the arc pattern, sprinkling trajectory, sprinkler pressure, pattern speed, and flow rate. The Guidance Module 52 provides information to the Main Controller 32. The Cart Motion Control Module 42 is configured to maneuver the mobile sprinkler cart 24 to the next hydrant 22 in the sequence in accordance to the overall field watering policy. In the embodiment shown in
It will be appreciated that the various modules, including the Hydrant Reader Module 34, the Machine Health Module 44, the Datum Reference Module 48 and the Guidance Module 52 may be physically located within the cabinet housing the Main Controller 32. Sprinkler Control Module 50 may be located in proximity to the sprinkler 56, with the remaining modules located appropriately and conveniently on the mobile sprinkler cart 24.
In other embodiments, the Guidance Module 52 may include a variety of sensors (
In one embodiment, the Guidance Module 52 forms a computational engine and receives a plurality of signals from a group of adjacent or proximate RFID tags 30 located on the hydrants 22. In this embodiment, each signal is associated with a specific hydrant, and its relative time of flight is used to determine the present location of the mobile sprinkler cart 24 in relation to its desired destination. The direction and speed of the mobile sprinkler cart 24 is varied in response to this information.
In yet another embodiment, the Guidance Module 52 includes a steerable antenna E (
The User Interface 54 is provided to enable a user to specify various irrigation parameters and to select watering policies which govern the operation of the mobile sprinkler cart. The User Interface 54 also provides status, maintenance, and alarm information to the user. In another embodiment, the User Interface 54 includes a communication link which is operable to enable the mobile sprinkler to provide status and be commanded by a remote device such as a computer or cell phone.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Nelson, Craig B., Bauman, Mark A., Leinweber, Chad D., Rupar, Robert L.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10517237, | May 09 2017 | LINDSAY CORPORATION | Lateral irrigation system with improved end-of-run control |
9581264, | May 21 2015 | HUSQVARNA AB | Hose tap timer device and method |
D787955, | May 19 2015 | HUSQVARNA AB | Timer |
ER1705, | |||
ER2182, |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
3583636, | |||
4877189, | May 18 1987 | Irrigation system | |
5740038, | Sep 26 1996 | System and method for optimized control of moving irrigation systems | |
5927603, | Sep 30 1997 | J. R. Simplot Company | Closed loop control system, sensing apparatus and fluid application system for a precision irrigation device |
6133835, | Dec 05 1997 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Identification transponder |
6230091, | Sep 30 1997 | AG-CHEM EQUIPMENT CO , INC | Variable flow spray nozzle system |
6431475, | Aug 26 1999 | Irrigation system | |
6554188, | Apr 13 1999 | Electronic Data Holdings Limited | Terminal for an active labelling system |
6688535, | Jan 26 2000 | ACCURAIN, INC | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
6721630, | Jun 05 2003 | HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC | Expandable irrigation controller with optional high-density station module |
6726132, | Jun 08 2001 | Valmont Industries, Inc.; VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC | Corner irrigation system including an ultra wide band (UWB) guidance system |
6847892, | Oct 29 2001 | LONGHORN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LLC | System for localizing and sensing objects and providing alerts |
6898467, | Mar 29 2000 | Signature Control Systems, Inc. | Distributed control network for irrigation management |
6996457, | Sep 23 1994 | The Toro Company | Irrigation controller with removable station modules |
7010396, | Apr 04 2003 | WARE, DAVID BRENT | Irrigation controller with embedded web server |
7051952, | Jan 30 2001 | Irrigation system | |
7069115, | Jun 30 2004 | HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC | Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller |
7123993, | Aug 28 2002 | SENDTHISFILE, INC | Irrigation controller |
7184423, | Apr 23 2002 | Machine Talker Inc. | Self coordinated machine network |
7225037, | Sep 03 2003 | UNITRONICS 1989 R G LTD | System and method for implementing logic control in programmable controllers in distributed control systems |
7300004, | Aug 22 2003 | PROJECT 088, LLC | Traveling sprinkler incorporating automatic water supply valve docking station |
20020134868, | |||
20050077401, | |||
20060202051, | |||
20070018832, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jun 24 2008 | Nelson Irrigation Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Aug 12 2008 | BAUMAN, MARK A | Nelson Irrigation Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021518 | /0731 | |
Aug 12 2008 | LEINWEBER, CHAD D | Nelson Irrigation Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021518 | /0731 | |
Aug 13 2008 | NELSON, CRAIG B | Nelson Irrigation Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021518 | /0731 | |
Aug 13 2008 | RUPAR, ROBERT L | Nelson Irrigation Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021518 | /0731 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Sep 13 2018 | M2551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Yr, Small Entity. |
Nov 28 2022 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
May 15 2023 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Apr 07 2018 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Oct 07 2018 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 07 2019 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Apr 07 2021 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Apr 07 2022 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Oct 07 2022 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 07 2023 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Apr 07 2025 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Apr 07 2026 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Oct 07 2026 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Apr 07 2027 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Apr 07 2029 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |